Home Alone opened on this day 35 years ago. The movie was about…okay, c’mon. I don’t need to tell you what fucking Home Alone was about. What I can tell you is it was much bigger than you probably realize. Home Alone was a pop culture phenomenon no one saw coming (including the folks at Disney, who made the unwise decision to open The Rescuers Down Under on the same day, but more on that in a future header). It was the number one movie at the box office for twelve straight weekends in a row. For those doing the math, yes, Home Alone was the biggest movie in America for the first weekend in February.
Now, when I say Home Alone was a hit no one saw coming, I mean that. Not even Fox knew what they had in their hands, so merchandise at the time of the film’s opening was virtually non-existent. Those video games you’ve seen YouTubers tear apart? They came out the following year. The board game? Also the following year. Obviously, a lack of marketing tie-ins for Home Alone 2: Lost in New York wouldn’t be an issue when it came out in 1992. But for when the original was in theaters? I can’t really find anything. So enjoy this now iconic trailer. It’s the best I’ve got to offer.
Have a great night, ya filthy animals!